#sparkinfo. Weekly Update
Week #25- February 25th-March 1st
Keep up your pace!
By the end of the school week, we will officially be into the month of March! That means spring is close! Testing is just two months away, and we are closing in on the end of the third nine weeks!
Next week we will be sending out our plan for our student engagement survey. This will be a major element on our school report card tied to school climate. Last year, our students reported that the average engagement was 56% cognitively, behaviorally, and emotionally. I feel confident that we will see growth in student engagement this year. What can we do to ensure that our students remain engaged at a high level? Is your instruction student-centered and mastery focused? Are you building relationships with your students?
It is easy this time of year to let off the gas, or to slow down as you can see the finish line in the distance. Be committed and keep up the pace. Better yet, pick up the pace toward the finish line. A runner finds great pride in finishing a race with a better pace than they started, but this takes a positive mindset, and good preparation to achieve.
One place we can keep our mindset focused on the good, and trying to build a culture of excellence is with our good news. To date, we have sent out 880 good news. Let's make it our goal to break 1,000 before the month of March is out!
Let us know how we can support you as you support your students in all that they do. Maintain high expectations and believe that your students can attain them!
I hope everyone has an incredible week!!!
Da'Quan Bowers visits Morning Assembly!
The Happy Hour Cart was a treat
Rain or shine, the eighth grade teachers are dedicated!
Instructional Focus
This past Friday, we had our Movie Day for SPARKS finest. The students had a good time! It is good to get to celebrate our awesome students efforts in the classroom and beyond with this and other PBIS initiatives. We truly believe that focusing on the good and not the bad is helping to build a culture of excellence. Hold your students to high expectations and let them see you believe they can truly rise to them. The worst thing we can do is underestimate our students' abilities. They are capable of mastery.
SLO's, professionalism, and final evaluation will be completed in the next several weeks. If you are undergoing a formal process, please complete the professionalism self review in SC LEAD as we prepare to meet. If we can help you with the process, please let us know.
We have exchanged many excel cents. We will get the used ones back to you this week.
Let us know how we can support you and your efforts. Thank you for all you are doing in the classroom!
This Week's Agenda!
Tuesday, Feb. 26th-
Lunch with the Principal
Wednesday, Feb. 27th-
Read Across America Day (Themed Assembly and Literacy Day)
Thursday, Feb. 28th-
Momentum Bike Club (3:30-5:00 PM)
Friday, March 1st-
Sixth Grade Field Trip- Medieval Times
SPARK SPOTLIGHT!!!!
A shout out from your colleague!
With the change of the Spark Spotlight last week, we saw twice as many submissions this week! This goes with knowing that your voice will be heard. We are going to continue the format this week. We are keeping the submitter anonymous for now. Thank you for building each other up! We have so much to spotlight everyday, and we are building a winsome culture. Pickens Middle is truly a great place to work and learn!
Justin Bramblett- Last week Justin got several frogs for his science class, I just mentioned how much I loved the aquatic frogs and used to have them as pets when I was younger. Without hesitation he offered to give me one and gave me a tank to keep it in as well! Now I have my very own class pet! Oh and he lets me use his frog food to feed it. Thank you for your kindness!
Melissa Hernandez- Melissa is so organized and always put together. She is patient, calm, and collected at all times. She is a bright spot at PMS and I love her!
Susan Martin- Thankful for Susan for being willing to host all of the Literacy Team at her house today! Her home was a lovely, warm respite from the rain and the meeting was so much fun! Happy to be her ELA colleague and friend!
Shana Dalton- Shana has been instrumental in leading the Literacy Team this year not only making sure we keep reading going and fun for the students but making sure the Literacy Team meets with intention off campus to have a little fun! So happy to be a part of her team for the good of PMS!
LeAnn Masters- It's especially difficult to be your best in all the responsibilities and obligations of the day. Sometimes, you need new insights, tools and perspective. That is exactly what LeAnn does for me. She is concise, clear, and direct. She took time to explain some strategies to me and then she gave me some resources. She is talented and so incredibly humble. I truly believe she is a gift to all those around her and I am so grateful to work with her at PMS
James King, Butch Morris, Kevin Williams, LeAnn Masters, and Chris Griffin- We are blessed to have such a great team to lead and guide us each day. Each one brings something different to the table. Always willing to help in any way whether it be school related or personal. Always trying to find ways to make us feel appreciated. NOT every employer says "Can't wait to see everyone" how often do you hear an Admin tell their students "hey we love ya" have a good day"Face it we work for people that truly care about us. Good bad and ugly!!!!! Thanks for the things we see and for the things we may not see or know that you have done for us.
You ALL are awesome!!!!!!!!!Pickens Middle School Leadership- We are blessed with an administration that supports us and cares about the students. They encourage us to make our contributions as teaching professionals and help us solve issues whether it be with students or parents. They show compassion, ask the right questions, and keep us going in a positive direction. They do little things like "Happy Hour" to show they appreciate what we do. The morning assembly encourages me on a daily basis! Pickens Middle is a great place to work and I am very grateful!
Click on the link below as you see and hear great things happening in the building. Please let us know about them by filling out the form. You may want to bookmark the link as we will be "Spotlighting" teachers and staff all year.
From Sparks of Knowledge Grow Flames of Success
Email: jamesking@pickens.k12.sc.us
Website: http://pms.pickens.k12.sc.us/
Location: 140 Torch Lane, Pickens, SC, 29671
Phone: (864) 397-4100
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/pickensms/?scrlybrkr=85865011
Twitter: @pmssparks